HER BODYGUARD

Kimberly woke a little after ten and wasn’t surprised to find herself alone. Even if she and Asher hadn’t gotten to sleep until almost four in the morning, he wasn’t the type to stay in bed past dawn.

“Big ol’ tough guy” she said with a yawn as she got out of bed and prepared to start what was left of her day.

As she showered, she stretched her muscles that were mildly sore from the unaccustomed activity. Pain or not, she felt great. Whole, which was odd considering she had never felt anything was missing.

Asher was an interesting man. Tender in bed… which she wouldn’t have expected, but still tough. Just like the last time they had been together. He had held her through the night. Every time she had awakened, he had been right there, his arms around her.

She told herself that it didn’t mean anything. That it couldn’t mean anything. They hadn’t know each other long enough for it to mean anything. Yet in some ways she felt as if she had known Asher forever. He had his flaws, but he was also a good man and she knew in her heart that he would die to protect her.

Neither of them was going to die, she told herself as she stepped out of the shower. They were going to beat Alex and company at their own game and win this. After that…

As she dried off, she realized that she didn’t know what would happen after this was all over and she could go back to her life. Obviously she had her job to return to.. And he had his. But then what? What about Asher? Would he just walk away? What was she going to do if he decided to? She couldn’t make him stay if he didn’t want to.

The thought made her heart ache, so she pushed it away and quickly dressed. The smell of coffee led her to the kitchen. She passed Asher hard at work on some strange looking program she guessed was for encryption.

“Good morning” he said as she walked back with her mug. “I thought you would sleep later”

“Isn’t this late enough?” Kimberly asked.

“We were up late,” he said.

She thought about what they had been doing and smiled. “Yes, we were,” she said.

He grinned at her. “You were great”

“So were you”

They stared at each other, still smiling foolishly, until he shooed her away.

“Back to work,” he told her. “Stop distracting me”

“And how am I doing that?” she asked.

“Just by standing there,” he replied.

Oh, she liked the sound of that. “So if I walked up to you and started unbuttoning my jeans….”

He shook his head. “You wouldn’t even have to go that far. Just walking in would do it” he said.

“Good to know,” Kimberly said. She gave a little wave of her fingers, then headed for her bedroom. While she wouldn’t mind a repeat of last night, she thought they could both use the work time. Tonight they could focus on play.

Fifteen minutes later, she had logged into her email account and started working her way through letters from kids she helped along with a few notes from staff members at work. At the bottom of the list was an email from her father’s close friend, Christopher Keane.

Kimberly stared at it and felt her muscles tense. Christopher Keane never called or sent her a message, even if he was close to her father. Her relationship with him was more of an “Hi” and “Hello” kind. This was weird, and she felt unnerved by the contact. The only reason he would send a message was if something was wrong.

She stood up and walked toward the control room.

“I have an email from Christopher Keane” she said as she entered. “My dad’s friend”

Asher looked up from the screen with odd symbols and lines. “What did he say?” he asked.

“I don’t know. I haven’t opened it, but I’m already freaking out” she replied.

He nodded, then rolled his chair to another computer where he quickly typed on the screen. Seconds later her email inbox appeared.

“Do I want to know how you did that?” she asked as she pulled a seat for herself.

“I told you I would monitor all incoming and oi email” he said. “The system has been rigged to dump a copy in my computer. I haven’t been reading it if that’s what you are worried about” he added.

Kimberly sighed. “You are welcome to” she said. “Nothing very interesting to read anyways”

“Until today” he said. He scrolled down to the email in question. “Want to guess what he has to say?”

Kimberly shrugged. “All I know is that he ever contacts me…. And I have a feeling that this is going to be bad news” she drew a deep breath. “Okay, open it” she said.

He pressed a couple of keys and the letter appeared.

Kimberly,

I don’t know where you are but that doesn’t matter. Your father hasn’t been feeling well for days, though he has been trying to hide it. I finally convinced him to see his doctor, who suspects a heart condition. He is worried about you, which isn’t helping his health. If you can’t come home, at least contact him and put his mind at rest.

Kimberly’s stomach knotted and she felt pressure in her chest. “Oh my God. My father” she said.

Asher looked at her. “It might not be that serious” he said. “I talked to him two days ago”

“But you don’t know for sure,” Kimberly said.

“True” Asher agreed. “But I’m willing to take bets on it”

“Your father isn’t the one who is sick” she snapped.

His gaze sharpened. “Kimberly, if something was wrong with your father, he would have told me when I called. And I have men watching him too, they would have told me too.

Right.”Good point. But are you sure?” Kimberly asked.

“Yes” Asher replied. “They might not be watching him every minute of every day, but I trust them, and if something was wrong with your father, I’m sure they would have found out and told me. Would you feel better if I called and asked them?”